Straightening apparatus.



A. W. MACHLBT. l STRAIGHTBNING APPARATUS. I APPLICATION FILED APR.15. 1908. 1;()45 1 6 1 Patented NOV. 26, 1912.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

w m A iw @EN H \N .A

uw QN wlkwmm W/TNESSES.'

A TTOHNEYW A. W. MAOHLET. STRAIGHTENING APPARATUS. APPLICATION FILED APB.. 15. 1908.

a sHEETs-sHBT 2.

ATTORNEY.

COLUMBIA PLANGGHAPH c0..\vASHlNG1-0N. D. l.:A

Patented Nov. 26, 1912.

A. W. MACHLET. STRAIGHTENING APPARATUS. APPLICATION FILED APR.15. 1908.

. JVl m3 m E 11M N DNN 0am ,W..m 24 W T V.S .A Nom, ,H dS e3 Liu n .WN AN D..

1&2.

STRAIGHTENING APPARATUS.

Specication of Letters Patent.

Patented N ov. 26,1912.

Application filed April 15, 1908. Serial No. 427,157.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that l, ADoLrH W. MACHLET, a citizen of the United States, residing in Elizabeth, in the county of Union and State of New Jersey, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Straightening Apparatus, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to means for straightening relatively long cylindrical bpdies, such as shafts, rods, tubes and the li te.

One object of the invention is to produce a mechanism, whereby ther shafts may be quickly changed from slightly warped or crooked form to a form of absolute or substantial straightness, and without the necessity of relying upon the accuracy of the eyesight or skill and judgment of the mechanic in hammering or manipulating.

1n the form of the invention, which is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, the shaft or rod, which is first heated so that it is readily workable, is placed in the grip of three set-s of rotating rolls, which bear upon three sides of the shaft. All of` the rolls are well separated, and they are so related that they slightly crimp the shaft or cause it to assume a sinuous form while being rotated in the grip of the rolls. Thus the different portions of the shaft throughout its length are worked or kneaded back and forth, and as a result the bend or bends in the shaft are worked out, and it is rendered straight.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a perspective view of the apparatus showing the upper set of rolls lifted. Fig. 2 is a similar view illustrating the operation of straightening the shaft. Fig. 3 is a sectional front elevation of the apparatus, the parts being in the working position seen at Fig. 2. Fig. 4 is a cross-section showing the shaft in the grip of the rolls. Fig. 5 is a sectional diagram taken through the rolls and showing the shaft gripped thereby. Fig. 6 is a diagram illustrating in an exaggerated manner the crimping action of the rolls upon the heated shaft. Fig. 7 is a plan of the apparatus.

The shaft l, which is usually heated to a 'red heat, is seen at Figs. 4 and 5 in the grip of three sets of rolls which bear upon three sides of the shaft preferably at intervals which are equi-distant around the shaft. The rolls 2 and 3 of the two lower sets, in this instance, have their axes about in the same horizontal plane, and the shaft is seen resting between these rolls, which engage the lower sides of the shaft and form a cradle therefor. The axis of the top rolls 4 is in a vertical plane which is about midway between the axes of the bottom rolls, and said rolls 4 bear upon the top of the shaft 1.

Rotation of the rolls is effected by means of a driving gear 5 which meshes with pinions 6, and 7 which are iiXed respectively to the rolls 2 and 3; the gear being connected by large and small sprocket wheels 8 and 9 and a chain l0 to a driving shaft 11 carrying a pulley 12, the small sprocket being on the shaft 11.

Powerful downward pressure of the top rolls 4 upon the shaft 1 is effected preferably by a lever 13, which at the fulcrum end is forked or formed into a bail or frame 14, in the ends 15 of which the rolls 4 are journaled. Thus one set of rolls may be moved bodily toward the companion rolls and in parallelism therewith. Said bail is hinged upon a tie rod 16, which connects a pair of heads 17, 18, erected upon a base 19, said heads being also connected by another tie rod 20, whereby a rigid framework is formed. The rolls in each of the sets are well separated, and in this instance are integral, being formed by cutting grooves 21 atuintervals in a long cylindrical drum or ro The rolls 2- are placed opposite the rolls 3, as seen at Fig. 7; but the top rolls 4 are placed about midway of the grooves or 1ntervals 21 of the lower sets of rolls, so that when the shaft 1 is in the grip of the rolls, the downward pressure of the top rolls effected by the lever 18 may be sufficient to produce slight flexure or sinuosity of the heated shaft, as illustrated diagrammatically at Fig. 6, the fleXure shown at this figure being somewhat exaggerated for the sake of illustration. The rolls or bearing members may be otherwise formed, disposed and operated for the purpose of the invention. The top roll shaft is formed with gudgeons 22 to iit in bushings or journal boxes 23, which are suitably supported in the bail ends 15. The lower roll sets are provided with gudgeons 24, which are ournaled in slides or bearings 25, and the latter are mounted in inclined slide-ways 26 formed in the opposite head 17, 18; screws 27 being threaded into the heads and engaging said bearings or slides, so as to elfect fine adjustments of the latter in the slideways both to accommodate different diameters of shafts placed in the grip of the rolls, and also to effect independent fine adjustments of the ends of the roll sets, so as to true them up. Said slideways incline downwardly and outwardly from the shaft 1, and as seen at Fig. 4 form an angle with each other of about 120 degrees, whereby the desired opening and closing of the lower rolls may be readily secured, while a solid support for these rolls is always afforded.

In operation, the heated shaft 1 is placed between the lower rolls, and the lever 13 is swung over to th-e Fig. et position, and pressed down with great force, the rolls being started in rotation by any suitable means. Any irregularities that may exist in the shape of the shaft 1 will make themselves known by tending to throw the lever 13 up at intervals; but as soon as t-he operator, who is holding down the lever, feels that the shaft is ruiming' smoothly in the rolls, he understands that the straightening of the shaft has been effected and throws back the lever 13 to permit the removal of the straightened shaft and the insertion of a fresh shaft. The lever or jaw 13 it will be seen forms the movable member of a vise in which the work shaft is powerfully gripped.

In order to accommodate shafts 0f considerable length, numerous rolls are provided in each set, and they may be placed at such intervals that there will be little or no liability of flexing the heated shaft` beyond the limit of elasticity, so that the latter will assume a normal straight form, as soon as the pressure is relieved. It is preferable to bring down t-he lever 13 with a light pressure and gradually to increase the pressure until it is heavy enough to effect the straightening of the shaft and to maintain such heavy pressure as long as it may be necessary during the chilling of the shaft. It is desirable to have the action of the system of rolls uniform from one end to the other thereof, so that not only are the lower rolls adjustable by the screws 27 at each end of each set, so as to true up the rolls, but the pressure is exerted upon the frame 14 about midway of the latter, so as to equalize the pressure upon the set of rolls carried by said frame or in other words, the upper set of rolls is caused to bear evenly throughout its length upon the shaft to be straightened.

Variations may be resorted to within the scope of the invention, and portions of the improvements may be used without others.

Having thus described my invention, 1 claim:

1. A shaft-straightening machine comprising opposing sets of alined pressure rolls with means for effecting rotation thereof, and for forcing one set of rolls bodily toward the other in parallelism therewith; the rolls of each 'set being separated and arranged opposite to the spaces between the rolls of the other set; the distance in axial direction between each roll and the nearest rolls in the other set being such as to enable the rolls to coperate tospring the shaft into a sinuous form during its rotation between the sets of rolls. j

2. A shaft-straightening 'machine comprising three opposino sets of pressure rolls with means for effecting rotation of one of the sets, and for enabling the three sets to coperate to grip the shaft, the rolls of each set being separated; the rolls in two of the sets being directly opposed, and the rolls in the third set being arranged opposite to the spaces between the rolls of the first two sets; the spacing of all the rolls being such as to enable them to spring the shaft into a sinuous form during its rotation in the grip of the rolls.

3. A shaft-straightening machine comprising three opposing sets of pressure rollsI and rotating means, the rolls of each set being separated and the rolls in two of the sets being directly opposed and having fixed bearings, in combination with a movable member carrying the third set of pressure rolls, the latter .being arranged opposite to the spaces between the rolls of the other two sets, and well separated laterally therefrom, to enable them to spring the shaft; said movable member being provided with means for bringing greatpressure to bear upon the shaft, so as to produce flexure of the latter during its rotation in the grip of the rolls.

Ll. The combination with a vise having rolls mounted in sets bodily movable one toward the other in parallelism to grip a cylindrical work shaft in such a manner as to spring the same into a slightly sinuous form, of means for effecting between the shaft and the gripping rolls, a simultaneous rolling movement circumferentially of the shaft; whereby the shaft may be rolled for an indefinite time in the grip of the rolls.

The combination with means for gripping a cylindrical shaft in such a manner as to spring the same into a sinuous form wit-hin the limit of elasticity of the shaft, of means for effecting between the shaft and the gripping means a simultaneous rolling movement circumferentially of the shaft; the gripping means being composed of parts mounted for relative movement in parallel ism so as to be separable to permit insertion and withdrawal of the shaft, and a single manually controlled device being provided for enabling gradual increase from initial light pressure to final heavy pressure of the gripping means upon the shaft, and for controlling the duration of the maximum pressure upon the shaft. Y

6. The combination with three sets of pressure rolls, the `rolls in each set being numerous and the rolls in one set being placed opposite the intervals between the rolls in the other sets, of means cooperating wit-h said sets of rolls for enabling them to grip the shaft, said rolls being sufficiently separated one from another to enable them to spring the shaft into a slightly sinuous form, and means for rotating the rolls.

7. The combination with a vise having a set of shaft-straightening members and provided with rolls spaced for springing the work-shaft into a slightly sinuous form, of means for effecting between the shaft and the rolls a relative rolling movement circumferentially of the shaft while the latter is distorted by the rolls; said rolls comprising three sets, two of said sets forming a cradle, and the third set placed opposite the spaces in the first two sets, and in position to press the work-shaft against the rolls in the first two sets.

8. A shaft-straightening machine, comprisingthree opposing sets of pressure rolls, with means fo-r effecting rotation of one of the sets, the rolls in each set being separated, the distance between the rolls in each set being substantially greater than the width of the rolls, the rolls in two of the sets being directly opposed, and the rolls in the third set being arranged opposite to the middle of the spaces between the rolls in the first twosets, and means for effecting relative forcing movement between the third set and the two sets opposed thereto, to spring the work shaft into sinuous form, said forcing means including a lever whereon one of said sets of rolls is mounted, and whereby the sets of rolls are enabled to cooperate to spring the work shaft.

9. A shaft-straightening machine, comprising three opposing sets of pressure rolls, with means for effecting rotation of one of the sets, the rolls in each set being separated,

the distance between the rolls in each set be-` ing substantially greater than the width of the rolls, the rolls in two of the sets being directly opposed, and the rolls in the third set being arranged opposite to the middle of the spaces between the rolls of the first two sets, and means for effecting relative forcing movement between the third set and the two sets opposed thereto, to spring the work shaft into sinuous form, said forcing means including a lever whereon one of said sets of rolls is mounted, and whereby the sets of` rolls are enabled to cooperate to spring the work shaft; said lever having at its fulcrum end the form of an open frame or bail upon which one set of rolls is journaled.

l0. A shaft-straightening machine, comprising three opposing sets of pressure rolls, with means for effecting rotation of one of the sets, the rolls in each set being separated, the distance between the rolls in each set being substantially greater than the width of the rolls, the rolls in two of the sets being directly opposed, and the rolls in the third set being arranged Opposite to the middle of the spaces between the rolls of the first two sets, and means for effecting relative forcing movement between the third set and the two sets opposed thereto, to spring the work shaft into sinuous form, said forcing means including a lever whereon one of said sets of rolls is mounted, and whereby the sets of rolls areenabled to cooperate to spring the work-shaft; said lever having at its fulcrum end the form of an open frame or bail upon which one set of rolls is journaled; and the lever also including a handle or operating part projecting from the middle portion of said frame or bail, so as to equalize the'pressure upon all of the rolls mounted in said frame.

1l. The combination with two sets of opposed pressure rolls forming a cradle and means at the ends of the sets for effecting fine adjustments, so as to true up the rolls, of a frame, a third set of pressure rolls mounted in the ends of said frame, to force a work-shaft into said cradle, and means for equalizing the pressure of said third set of rolls upon the work-shaft; the rolls in each set being well separated, and those in the third set sufficiently separated from those in the other sets, to spring the work-shaft into a sinuous form.

12. A shaft-straightening machine comprising two sets of pressure rolls connected by gears and forming a cradle, a third set of pressure rolls, and means for eecting relative movement between said third set and the first two sets, to force a work shaft into said cradle; the rolls in each set being numerous and well separated, and those in the third set sufiiciently separated from those in the other sets to enable them to spring the work shaft into sinuous form.

13. A shaft-straightening machine comprising two sets of pressure rolls forming a cradle and provided with means for effecting relative adjustment of the sets toward and away from each other to accommodate different diameters of shafts to be straightened, a third set of pressure rolls, and means for effecting relative movement between the third set and the first two sets, so as both to permit insertion and withdrawal of a work-shaft and also to force said work-shaft into said cradle; the rolls in the first two sets being opposed and well separated, and those in the third set being suiiiciently separated from those in the other sets to spring the shaft into a sinuous form; means being provided for rotating the rolls while bending the shaft..

lll. A shaft-straightening machine comprising two sets of pressure rolls, which are provided with means for effecting relative adjustment of the sets toward and awayy from each other to accommodate different diameters of shafts to be straightened, a third set of pressure rolls, and means for effecting relative movement between the third set and the first two sets, so as both to permit insertion and withdrawal of a shaft and also to effect the straightening of the latter; the rolls in one set being well separated laterally from other rolls so as to spring` the shaft into sinuous form; means being provided for rotating the rolls while gripping the shaft; the first two sets of rolls being mounted upon bearings adjustable obliquely relatively to each other, and the axes of thc third sct of rolls being movable in a direction which is about perpendicular to a plane oining the axes of the first two sets,'whereby the sets of rolls may contact with the shaft at about equi-distant points circumferentially thereof.

15. 1n combination, a pair of sets of pressure rolls, each pair mounted in bearings or slides, inclined boxes guiding said slides, so that they may move downwardly away from each other, screws in said boxes for adjusting said slides, a third set of pressure rolls mounted above said sets of rolls, and about midway of the latter, and means for forcing the upper rolls downwardly; all of said rolls being well separated and separated laterally sufficiently to spring the shaft into a sinuous form.

1G. A shaft-straightening machine comprising a base and a pair of heads upstanding therefrom, tie rods connecting said heads, each of the latter provided with converging slideways, bearings or slides mounted insaid slideways, screws for adjusting said bearings in said slideways, two sets of pressure rolls carried by said bearings, a bail hinged upon said heads, a third set of pressure rolls mounted at its ends in said bail,

a lever arm extending from said bail, and

means for rotating the rolls, the rolls in one set being well separated laterally from those in the other sets, to enable them to spring a shaft into a sinuous form.

17. A vise provided with a pair of sets of shaft-straightening pressure rolls, the rolls in one set being numerous and integral, and opposed to the intervals between the rolls in the other set. and sufiiciently separated from those in the other set, to spring the work shaft into a sinuous form during the rolling thereof; said vise comprising a jaw on which one of said sets is mounted for movement in parallelism with the remaining rolls, whereby the duration of maximum pressure may be controlled.

151A vise provided with a system of shaft-straightening pressure rolls comprising three sets, the rolls in each set being numerous and well separated, the rolls in two of the sets being similar in position, and

the rolls in the remaining set being disposed about midway of the intervals between the rolls of the first two sets, and sufficiently separated therefrom to spring the shaft into a sinuous form; said sets being disposed at about equal intervals circumferentially of the work shaft.

19. A vise provided with a system of shaft-straightening pressure rolls, the rolls in each set being numerous and integral and well separated, and the rolls in the system being so disposed with relation to one another as to be capable of springing a shaft gripped thereby into a sinuous form; said sets being disposed at about equal intervals circumferentially of the work shaft.

20. A shaft-straightening machine, comprising three opposing sets of pressure rolls, the rolls in each set being separated, the distance between the rolls in each set being substantially greater than the width of the rolls, the rolls in two of the sets being directly opposed, and the rolls in the third set being arranged opposite to the middle'of the spaces between the rolls of the first two sets, means for effecting relative forcing movement between the third set and the two sets opposed thereto, to spring the work shaft into sinuous form, the rolls in two of said sets having pinions, a driving gear connected with said pinions, said opposed rolls being mounted for oblique adjustment toward and away from each other, the third set of rolls mounted to lift up and drop relatively to the first two sets, and means for equalizing the pressure of the third set of rolls.

21. The combination of three sets of pressure rolls, those in one set opposite the intervals between those in the other two sets, and sufficiently separated laterally from those in said other two sets to bend the work shaft into sinuous form while rolling the same, means for distributing the pressure evenly among all of the rolls in all of the sets, means for rotating the rolls, and means to force the three sets of rolls to grip the shaft.

22. A shaft-straightening machine, comprising opposing sets of alined pressure ro-lls with means for effecting rotation thereof, the rolls in each set separated and disposed opposite the spaces between the rolls of the other set, the spaces between the rolls being substantially greater than the width of the rolls, each individual roll occupying a position midway between two opposing rolls, and at a substantial distance therefrom, means for effecting a forcing movement bodily of one of the sets of rolls, in parallelism with the other set, to bend the work shaft into sinuous form during the rotation of the rolls, and means for effecting fine adjustments of the rolls to bring them into parallelism. Y

28. A shaft-straigthening machine, comprising three opposing sets of pressure rolls with means for edecting rotation of one of the sets, the rolls in each set being separated, the distance between the rolls in each set being substantially greater than the width of the rolls, the rolls in two of the sets being directly opposed, and the rolls in the third set being arranged opposite to the middle of the spaces between the rolls of the first two sets, and means for effecting relative forcing movement between the third set and the two sets opposed thereto, to spring the work shaft into sinuous form.

24. A shaft-straightening machine comprising two sets of pressure rolls, said rolls being directly opposed, a third set of pressure rolls, means for eecting relatively bodily movement between said third set and the other two sets, to permit the work shaft to be inserted or removed laterally,means for effecting rotation of one of the sets of rolls, the rolls in each set being spaced apart, and the rolls in the third set being opposite the spaces between the rolls of the other two sets, and spaces intervening between the rolls in the third set and the rolls in the other two sets, to permit the rolls in the third set to spring the shaft into sinuousV form.

25. The combination with means for springing a work shaft into sinuous form within the limit of elasticity of the shaft, of means for effect-ing between the work shaft and the gripping means a simultaneous rolling movement circumferentially of the shaft; the springing means comprising parts which are mounted to be separable laterally in parallelism to permit insertion and withdrawal of the work shaft laterally.

26. The combination with means for springing a work shaft into sinuous form within the limit of elasticity of the shaft, of means for eifecting between the work shaft and the gripping means a simultaneous rolling movement circumferentially of the shaft; the springing means comprising parts which are separable laterally to permit insertion and withdrawal of the work shaft laterally, and a single manually controlled device having means for gradually increasing the pressure of said springing means from initial light pressure to final heavy pressure, and controlling the duration of the nal pressure.

27. A shaft-straightener comprising a vise having jaws relatively movable in parallelism to permit insertion of the work shaft and to enable the shaft to be gripped and to control the duration of the maximum pressure on the rolls, one of said jaws provided with a set of rolls, and the other set of jaws provided with an opposing setof rolls, the rolls in each set being separated, and the rolls in one set being opposite the spaces in the other set, and the separation of the rolls being sufficient to enable the jaws to force the shaft into sinuous form; and means for rotating the rolls.

28. The combination with two sets of rolls forming a cradle to receive a work shaft, said rolls being separated one from another, and the rolls in one set opposite the rolls in the other set, of a third set of rolls opposite the spaces in the first two sets of rolls, said three sets of rolls being constructed to cooperate to hold a work shaft, means for effecting a relative bodily forcing movement between the third set and the first tvo sets of rolls; the rolls in the third set being substantially shorter than the spaces between the rolls in the first two sets, to enable the three sets to cooperate to spring the work shaft into sinuous form during the rotation thereof; and means for rotating the rolls.

29, A shaft-straightening machine comprising two sets of pressure rolls forming a cradle and provided with means for effecting relative adjustment of the sets toward and away from each other to accommodate dierent diameters of shafts to be straightened, a third set of pressure rolls, and means for effecting relative movement between the third set and the first two sets, so as both to permit insertion and withdrawal of a work shaft and also to force said work shaft into said cradle, the rolls in the first two sets being opposed and well separated, and those in the third set being sufficiently separated from those in the other sets to spring the shaft into a sinuous form; means being provided for rotating the rolls while bending the shaft; the first two sets of rolls being mounted upon bearings adjustable obliquely relatively to each other, and the axes of the `third set of rolls being movable in a direc- Gopes of this patent may be obtained for ve cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, ID. C. 

